Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Thank you!!! to Macey's sweet pre-school teacher, Tami Valgardson. Macey, at random, spouted off in the car today with "and not for Adam's trans-gressions!" Greg and I were putting her to bed tonight, and I remembered to tell him about it in front of her. Then I got the bright idea to start off the first Article of Faith, "We Believe in God", to see if she knew it, and SHE SAID IT WORD-FOR-WORD!!! I could not even believe it! Talk about a tear-jerker, try that one on for size! And she just barely turned 3 this month!!

Maybe it seems so silly to be so amazed that she could memorize 2, yes 2, Articles of Faith at this age. I guess they can memorize songs and books, so why not this? I guess it just hit me funny.

What an amazing preschool teacher, eh? Let's hear it for Tami!!! GO TAMI!!!

If any of you aren't familiar with what these are, see below. More information can be found at our official church website: www.lds.org. These are basic declarations of Mormon theology (our basic beliefs).

THE ARTICLES OF FAITHOF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTSHistory of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541 1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. 3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. 4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. 6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. 7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. 8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. 9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. 10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacalglory. 11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. 12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. 13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.Joseph Smith

Friday, September 26, 2008

I know, it's a crazy thing to get SO excited over, but check this out! Greg brings home little treats for Macey and I every so often, and last week, he brought home a little snack-size bag of peanut m&ms. I am one of those crazy people who, when eating any bag/handful of anything with different colors (runts, m&ms, skittles, you name it!), I have to do the following:

1. Separate them into different colors

2. See which ones have more of their color than the others

3. Eat the colors that have more first

4. Eat one of each color, keeping the numbers even in each color

5. Absolutely relish that last set where there's 1 of each color

On with the story: I opened this little snack-sized bag of peanut m&m's and found this!!! Exactly ONE OF EACH COLOR!!!

Can I tell you how happy I was? SOOOO Happy!!! I know, crazy, but hey, I enjoy the small things in life! :-) (And the completely in order things!)

Ok - I know I'm a little behind on this one...almost a month, I guess, but it's better late than never right?! Macey has been loving preschool. She goes Tues-Thurs. from 9-12. Her teacher is a lady in my ward and seems to do a WONDERFUL job with them. They learn a letter and a number a day, sing songs, read books together, have a snack, and the most important...recess! She is tracing letters like a pro! The first time she brought home her letter A paper, I thought her teacher had traced the letters...quite impressive for a 3 year old! Go Macey! (Of course, I'm her #1 fan :-) ) She tells me little tidbits of what she does each day and we review what letter and number they learned that morning throughout the rest of the day. On letter B day, I was taking her and a little friend home from school and had asked them what sound it made and then what words began with that letter. They responded with things like ball, baby, etc. Macey pipes in with "bicycle"...then a few more from her older friend...no more from Macey, so I ask, "What other word begins with the letter B, Macey?" With the Greg twinkle in her eye and a HUGE smile on her face, she replies, "BOOGER!" What a wit. Gotta love her!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Macey's actual birthday was on a Tuesday. Daddy went in to work late so he could wake up with her, make her some breakfast, and spend time with her.

We gave her 3 gifts throughout the day (one in the morning, one at lunch, and then one at night). I learned that from Alicia, and Macey seemed to dig it!

If you get jewelry, you have to try it on with your favorite dress and shoes, right? This was the last gift...it was really late at night, but she was having so much fun...Mommy and Macey got ready, spent time playing with the new mermaid barbie in the bathtub, played together, and then napped so we were ready for the rest of our day with Daddy.

Greg took the 2nd half of the day off to spend together with bug. She has been BEGGING to go see the butterflies at the zoo (she thinks they're going to land on her finger, like they do in the movies). Tuesday afternoons are free at the Memphis Zoo, so we finally took her!

Macey was just cracking me up in the butterfly exhibit, because she kept holding her little finger out, waiting for a butterfly to land on it! She was so disappointed that it wasn't working, so the interest in the butterflies was quite brief for all the begging she had done to go see them :-)

How old are you, Macey?

On to the "stinky giraffes" - as she calls them...

Aaaaah...

Check out their profiles and eyes...twinners, huh!

After the zoo...we went out to dinner and then to Chucky Cheese. We really enjoyed our day together, and I think we sang the happy birthday song, over a period of at least 4 days, probably a total of 15 times. She just absolutely loves the attention. She has been waiting a whole YEAR to turn "three my old", you know!

She really wanted to talk to Chucky. Finally realizing he wasn't conversing with her, she resorted to just groovin' with him!

Macey turned 3! I think I was actually more sad on her birthday that she is growing up so much than on her first day of preschool! She is just such a joy, and such a Big Girl now!!!

The Saturday before her special day (it was the 2nd of September - and yeah, I'm a little late on the posting) we had a Tinkerbell party (at her request) with some of her friends here in Memphis. First, the kids decorated their "princess fairy crowns" or "prince crowns" for the boys. Then they headed out back to swim and play. We set a couple of kiddie pools and put bubbles out for play too. Then they came back inside for some good ol' party-staple pizza and soda. Then we put on some music, got dressed up with wings and wands, and danced! (ok - the boys did not wear wings - they had cool swords and shields). Some decided to grab crazy glasses and shades from the toy room... Then we had cake...aaah, the cake. I was so proud of myself!!! I really want to be a cool mommy in some way, so I did my best to make a cool cake. Yeah - it took forever, but worth it. I only have 1 kid right now, so I can do these sorts of things, right? Thank you to all of her sweet friends and parents who made this so special for her.

My Two Favorite People...Ever!

About Us

I see it. I love it. I create it!
From the time I was little, I have been a lover of beautiful things. Growing up in a hairdresser's home, I first learned about beautiful hair...and nails...and clothes...and all things that go along with being the daughter of a hairstylist and having a beauty shop right in your home! Then, I fell in love with decorating! I started a vinyl wall lettering business, and from there I have helped countless friends and family members beautify their living spaces and make them their own. I am obsessed with organizing, throwing parties, planning events, and love designing and using space well.